Who is Scott McTominay? The young Manchester United midfielder to start against Huddersfield
Just who is the young central midfielder Jose Mourinho has selected?
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Scott McTominay is a shock inclusion for Manchester United against Huddersfield today, as Jose Mourinho shuffles his pack after a disappointing midweek loss to Tottenham Hotspur.
The 21-year-old midfielder is local lad, born in Lancashire, and has come through the youth system at Old Trafford.
Rangey and stout in the tackle, he will add bite to the United midfield, and here is everything you need to know about the youngster who has earned the Special One's trust.
Date of birth: 8 December 1996 (21-years-old)
Place of birth: Lancaster, England
Position: Central midfielder
Background
The 21-year-old central midfielder is highly regarded among the coaching staff at the club – and he much of his recent success to a timely growth spurt at the end of 2015.
The story goes that McTominay measured just 5ft 6ins at the start of 2015, with United’s youth-team coaches doubtful he would be able to make the grade at the top-level in the professional game. But by the end of the year he had shot up in size, and now stands at an imposing 6ft 4ins.
A powerful central midfielder with a good first touch, McTominay broke into United’s Under-21 team last year, and went on to make four starts and five substitute appearances for the developmental side.
Last season he was ever present in the Premier League 2 for United’s reserve team, starting 21 games and scoring three goals.
Because of the second-string’s lack of a striker, the youngster has also been used as an auxiliary forward on occasions, in the style of Marouane Fellaini.
Last season, McTominay told the club’s official programme how he had been inspired by the likes of Marcus Rashford and Jesse Lingard, who both progressed through United’s youth sides and into their first-team.
“That was an inspiration for me,” he revealed. “It just shows how far you can actually come. A lot of people may have written Jesse off when he was a lot younger and smaller and thought he might not be capable of playing at the top level but look at him now, he’s done it.”
Career highlight
McTominay’s career highlight came last season, when he came off the bench to play the last ten minutes of Manchester United’s Premier League match against Arsenal.
The youngster touched the ball a grand total of 11 times, although did manage to take a shot on goal, a low half-volley on the turn which forced Petr Cech into a smart stop.
What they say
“Scott has just burst onto the scene,” Manchester United reserve team manager Warren Joyce said. “He could be a proper box-to-box aggressive midfielder and we need to be mindful of that.
“He’s a really good footballer, technically sound with good skills and excellent in the keep-ball sessions.”
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